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Rama: About ten million foreign tourists visited Albania in 2023

During 2023, Albania has welcomed 9.54 million foreign visitors, Prime Minister Edi Rama informed this Monday, adding that only during the month of November, 547 thousand foreign tourists visited Albania. In a social media statement, PM Rama emphasized that these are proofs that Albania is being visited in every season …

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German citizen caught with 30,000 undeclared euro in Rinas

Two cases of smuggling and one of non-declaration of money at the border were dealt with this Monday by police authorities. A German citizen was criminally prosecuted for the case of non-declaration of the money. Meanwhile, the amount of 30,000 euros that he did not declare at the exit of …

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Luxurious vehicle burned in Shkodra

A luxurious vehicle was partially burned in the early hours of Monday morning in Shkoder. Police revealed that the “Range Rover” type vehicle is owned by a 58-year-old resident of America. On its part, the investigative group led by the Prosecutor’s Office is working to determine the cause of the …

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Two injured and six cars crash on nation’s highway

Six vehicles collided this Monday morning, on Nation’s Highway, near the village of Blinisht. According to the police, as a result of the collision, material damage was caused and two people were slightly injured. Following the massive accident, police services went to the scene and are working to determine the …

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Elbasan, teen busted transporting drugs

A 19-year-old was arrested in Elbasan after he was caught transporting a quantity of narcotics. Drugs were found hidden in the vehicle driven by the young man, as announced Monday. On their part, the authorities have identified the owner of this vehicle and the work to catch him is ongoing./abcnews.al …

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12 incinerator defendants to appear before Special Court

2 people arrested by order of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), are expected to appear before the court this Monday at 10:30, for the Tirana Incinerator affair. Earlier on, the Special Prosecutor’s Office issued 15 arrest warrants, after the investigations started for the concession awarding procedures …

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Opposition warns blocking of parliament work on approving 2024 budget

Opposition has once again warned of chaos and blocking the work of the Assembly, while this Thursday it is expected that the 2024 budget will be approved, article by article and in its entirety. Six opposition MPs will not be present at the session, as they were expelled for 10 …

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Suspended vice mayor of Kukes appears at SPAK

After the suspension from the office, deputy mayor of Kukes Municipality, Granit Gjana appeared on Thursday morning at the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK). SPAK accuses Ghana of violating equality in tenders, while today Ghana will be notified of the measure of suspension from office. According to SPAK, Ghana, in violation …

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SPAK finished probe on former Mayor of Durres

Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) closed this Thursday the investigations for the former mayor of Durrës, Vangjush Dako, and for the other defendants, who are accused of abuse of office in two cases. Eleven people have been charged, while only one has been requested by the prosecution to dismiss the case, …

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2024 budget approved despite chaos in parliament

2024 budget has been approved this Thursday morning with 74 votes in favor, while the session closes after 8 minutes due to the tensions. At the launch of today’s plenary session, the opposition MPs clashed with the Guard of the Republic, which has been put on standby to ensure the …

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News
Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News
Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

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Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

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Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News
Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …